How to Help Puerto Rico Birds Through Citizen Science

eBird: the foundation

eBird, run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is among the world's largest biodiversity projects, with more than 100 million sightings contributed each year. You record when, where, and how you went birding and list every bird you saw or heard. The free app works offline, which helps in El Yunque or the Cordillera Central.

Quality matters. When you enter data, eBird shows filters of expected species for that date and region; unusual records or high counts go to regional reviewers. Data are archived daily, freely accessible, and have been used in hundreds of conservation decisions and peer-reviewed papers.

How to make your eBird checklist count

The most useful checklist is a complete one: you report every bird you could identify, with start time, duration, and distance. If you stayed in one spot and moved no more than about 30 meters, use the stationary protocol; if you walked farther, use traveling. A complete checklist shows that a species was absent, not just that one was present.

The incidental protocol, for when birding was not your main activity, never counts as a complete checklist and is less useful for science. When you can, give a few minutes of full attention. For sensitive species such as the Iguaca or Elfin-woods Warbler, avoid posting exact nest locations; the rare bird guide explains how to document well.

Christmas Bird Count

Audubon's Christmas Bird Count began on Christmas Day 1900 as an alternative to the competitive bird hunts of the time and is now one of the world's longest-running community science projects. It runs every year from December 14 to January 5, and each count circle picks one day in that window.

There are two ways to take part: field counts, covering a sector during daylight, and feeder counts, counting from your backyard or a park inside the circle. It is free and open to all skill levels. Audubon's circle finder shows active counts nearby, and introductory webinars are available in Spanish.

Great Backyard Bird Count and Caribbean Waterbird Census

The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place every February over four days, and counting for 15 minutes on one of them, anywhere in the world, is enough. It is run by Audubon, Cornell, and Birds Canada; the 30th edition is February 12-15, 2027. It suits schools and families: a Bananaquit or a Puerto Rican Tody in the yard is data too.

BirdsCaribbean's Caribbean Waterbird Census focuses on wetlands and coasts. In 2021 it held its 12th edition, with counts from January 14 to February 3, and SOPI offered a webinar on Puerto Rico's common waterbirds to prepare participants. It is a good entry point for learning shorebirds, herons, and ducks.

The Breeding Bird Atlas: what volunteers achieve

From 2004 to 2009, 344 volunteers coordinated by SOPI searched for breeding evidence in 479 hexagons of 24 km² covering Puerto Rico, its islands, and cays. Each behavior was classed as observed, possible, probable, or confirmed, and the result was an atlas published in 2021 by the U.S. Forest Service covering 130 breeding species.

The atlas maps 16 endemic species and 13 endemic subspecies and serves as a baseline for measuring change from land use and climate. That is the logic of all citizen science: thousands of simple, methodical observations become information no professional team could gather alone.

Beyond counting: other ways to help

Some actions have direct effect. Keeping cats indoors protects nests and young birds. Not trimming trees with active nests protects species such as the Plain Pigeon, whose federal review flags cutting nest branches as a common disturbance. And reporting illegal hunting or sales of native birds to the DNER Ranger Corps helps the law work.

Education counts too: the Fish and Wildlife Service found that many east-central residents did not know the Plain Pigeon nested in their community. Sharing what you observe, bringing children to a count, or presenting a species at school turns more people into allies. Just remember not to reveal sensitive nest locations.

What is bird citizen science?

It is volunteer participation in collecting scientific data about birds, such as eBird checklists or organized counts. With simple methods, those observations feed maps, studies, and conservation decisions. In Puerto Rico, the Breeding Bird Atlas was built by 344 volunteers.

How do I report birds on eBird from Puerto Rico?

Create a free eBird account, download the app, and while birding record start time, duration, and distance. Mark every species you identified and answer 'yes' to complete checklist if you reported everything. The app works offline and submits once you have a connection again.

When is the Christmas Bird Count?

Every year from December 14 to January 5. Each circle picks one day in that window, so look up the nearest count with Audubon's circle finder. You can take part in the field or by counting from your backyard.

Can kids and schools take part?

Yes. The Great Backyard Bird Count asks for just 15 minutes on one of its four February days and welcomes all skill levels. A school group can count in the schoolyard and submit the checklist through an adult's account.

Is it bad to post where I saw an endangered bird?

It can be. Revealing nests or roosts of sensitive species such as the Iguaca can draw disturbance or illegal capture. Submit your checklists to eBird, do not share exact nest locations on social media, and when in doubt, check with the DNER.

What else can I do to help endangered birds?

Keep cats indoors, do not trim trees with active nests, plant native trees, support conservation groups, and report illegal hunting or bird sales to the DNER Ranger Corps. Each action removes a specific threat.